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The 25th annual DICE awards have officially wrapped up and after months of speculating which games would come out on top, we now have our list of winners.
Taking home the ceremony’s prestigious Game of the Year award was none other than Hazelight Studio’s It Takes Two, a quirky, cooperative adventure game all about a divorce gone terribly wrong. It Takes Two also won Game of the Year at the 2021 Game Awards, a pretty impressive accomplishment for the small studio.
Other big winners include Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, which took home awards for Outstanding Achievement in Animation, Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction, Outstanding Technical Achievement, and Family Game of the Year, Marvel’s Guardian of the Galaxy (Adventure Game of the Year and Outstanding Achievement in Story), and Returnal (Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design and Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition).
In addition to announcing the various award recipients, the show also honored multiple industry leaders. Those recognized include NetherRealm Studios Ed Boon, the 2022 Hall of Fame inductee, as well as Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, who was given a Lifetime Achievement Award.
You can see all the categories, and their nominees, below. The winners are printed in bold.
2021 DICE Awards Nominees
Winners in bold
Game of the Year
It Takes TwoDeathloopReturnalInscryptionRatchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
DeathloopIt Takes TwoInscryptionRatchet & Clank: Rift ApartThe Artful Escape
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
It Takes TwoDeathloopLoop HeroInscryptionRatchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Ratchet & Clank: Rift ApartCall of Duty: VanguardDeathloopKena: Bridge of SpiritsResident Evil Village
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
Ratchet & Clank: Rift ApartCall of Duty: VanguardDeathloopKena: Bridge of SpiritsResident Evil Village
Outstanding Achievement in Character
Resident Evil Village – Lady DimitrescuDeathloop – Colt VahnKena: Bridge of Spirits – KenaLife is Strange: True Colors – Alex ChenRatchet & Clank: Rift Apart – Rivet
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
ReturnalDeathloopIt Takes TwoKena: Bridge of SpiritsPsychonauts 2
Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design
ReturnalForza Horizon 5Halo InfiniteIt Takes TwoRatchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Outstanding Achievement in Story
Marvel’s Guardians of the GalaxyBefore Your EyesInscryptionPsychonauts 2The Forgotten City
Outstanding Technical Achievement
Ratchet & Clank: Rift ApartBattlefield 2042Forza Horizon 5MoncageReturnal
Action Game of the Year
Halo InfiniteDeathloopMetroid DreadReturnalThe Ascent
Adventure Game of the Year
Marvel’s Guardians of the GalaxyDeath’s DoorIt Takes TwoPsychonauts 2Resident Evil Village
Family Game of the Year
Ratchet & Clank: Rift ApartAnimal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home ParadiseCozy GroveMario Party SuperstarsWarioWare: Get it Together
Fighting Game of the Year
Guilty Gear: StriveMelty Blood: Type LuminaNickelodeon All-Star Brawl
Racing Game of the Year
Forza Horizon 5F1 2021Hot Wheels Unleashed
Role-Playing Game of the Year
Final Fantasy XIV: EndwalkerPathfinder: Wrath of the RighteousShin Megami Tensei VTales of AriseWildermyth
Sports Game of the Year
Mario Golf: Super RushFIFA 22NBA 2K22Rider’s RepublicThe Climb 2
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
Age of Empires IVGloomhavenGriftlandsInscryptionLoop Hero
Online Game of the Year
Halo InfiniteBack 4 BloodCall of Duty: VanguardFinal Fantasy XIV: EndwalkerKnockout City
Immersive Reality Technical Achievement
Lone Echo IIPuzzling PlacesResident Evil 4 VRSong in the SmokeYuki
Immersive Reality Game of the Year
Lone Echo IIDemeoI Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and the LiarResident Evil 4 VRSong in the Smoke
Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game
UnpackingDeath’s DoorInscryptionLoop HeroSable
Mobile Game of the Year
Pokemon UniteBehind the FrameFantasianLeague of Legends: Wild RiftMoncage
